Michigan State conducting internal review of Will Gholston's punch during Michigan game

EAST LANSING -- The conduct of Michigan State defensive end Will Gholston in the Michigan game last Saturday -- including a thrown punch -- is under scrutiny by the Big Ten Conference and could result in a suspension for the sophomore from Detroit.

"The Big Ten has notified Michigan State of a possible sportslike conduct violation," Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said in a statement handed out at Tuesday’s weekly news conference with coach Mark Dantonio.

Dantonio declined comment on the specific incidents, but said he is proud of how his program plays.

Gholston was penalized for two personal-foul penalties in the 28-14 win against Michigan, one after pulling on U-M quarterback Denard Robinson’s face mask and one after punching U-M lineman Taylor Lewan. The punch came after Lewan dragged Gholston to the ground by his facemask.

"We are in the process of completing our internal review of the matter," the statement said.

"We are thoroughly reviewing the entire game and utilizing all of the available resources: coaches’ video from midfield and end zone cameras, TV copy, as well as still photographs. Once the internal review is completed, we will forward a written report on to the Big Ten. The conference office won’t discuss a timeline for this process and neither will we."

Hollis said proper protocol is being followed, and it will not be released in the media.

"As an institution, we work hard at promoting good sportsmanship, and I’m sure many of you are familiar with our ‘Raise Your Shield’ campaign, encouraging our fans to honor and respect our opponents," he said. "I also know that Coach Dantonio and his staff work hard at promoting good sportsmanship. This is an isolated incident and Coach D and his staff will continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining one’s composure during the heat of the moment.

"As an AD, I take sportsmanship seriously, but it’s equally important for me to evaluate this game and the particular play in its totality."

Will Gholston

The Big Ten rulebook says "striking or attempting to strike or otherwise physically abusing an official, opposing coach, spectator or athlete" makes the offender "subject" to a first offense penalty of "public reprimand and suspension for up to 50 percent of the scheduled contests in the sport as deemed appropriate."

Schools have three business days to submit reports to the league, and the league rules within three more business days. An appeal process is also in place.

Michigan State hosts Wisconsin on Saturday night. Gholston was listed Tuesday as the starter at strong-side defensive end. Denzel Drone, a sophomore with five career starts, is listed second at that spot and rotates in during games.

Dantonio was asked specifically how he felt about public charges that his team played dirty. He said people must take into context how his teams have played for the last 50-plus games.

"We are just playing the game as hard as we can play it," he said. "This is a physical game. This is a game of reaction. We’re not talking about seconds to react. We’re talking about tenth of seconds to react, and this game is a game of collision, and anybody who does not understand that, you know, hasn't been out there, they haven’t been down there on the sideline watching it up front.

"It’s a tough physical game. That’s the way the game is supposed to be played. That’s the way the game has always been played by the successful teams."

Dantonio said his team must cut down on penalties because, ultimately, they could cost the Spartans a game.

"The lack of composure is frustrating, obviously, but we’re not coaching that, and I don’t think that’s ever been evident in this program."

After practice Tuesday, teammates came to Gholston’s defense.

Linebacker Chris Norman said a team and player should not be judged off a few plays.

"I know that’s not who he is. I know his personality and he’s a real fun-loving guy," Norman said. "What happened is not how he is. I don’t want people to develop a misconception about him."

"They don’t know how hard he works and how much this game means to him, and how much character he has," he said.

Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said he never intended to indicate "unnecessary roughness" is coached in the program with his statements in the wake of the game.

"It was kind of joking, maybe taken out of context a little, and I want to make sure people know we don’t coach that," he said. "That was as many (five personal fouls) in one game as we’ve probably had in the last four-and-a-half years. We don’t do that.